Veterans for Obama

Some two dozen military veterans, from Korea to Iraq, gathered July 31 at Veterans Memorial Park to demonstrate their support for Barack Obama and the idea of civilian control of the military.

"I didn't want to go to Vietnam," said attorney John Greenfield, a one-time Hillary Clinton supporter who was drafted in 1968. "It didn't make any sense."

Greenfield's father made him go to Vietnam, convincing him that it was not an individual choice but rather a collective national decision. But Greenfield, who wore a pinstriped shirt to the veterans event, reminded the assembled that the commander in chief wears a suit in this country, not military dress.

"Think about that the next time somebody tells you John McCain is better qualified to be president than Barack Obama," Greenfield said. "That's baloney. What we want is a president with wisdom."

Former Idaho Gov. Cecil Andrus and U.S. Senate candidate Larry LaRocco are also veterans supporting Obama.

Andrus called Obama a "young man," as in: "The young man has that unique vision and sensitivity to make the right call." LaRocco rattled off a half-dozen veterans initiatives that he supports, from mileage reimbursements for vets who must travel for treatment to the Wounded Warriors Act, a Veteran's Administration suicide line and a new G.I. bill. And he reminded the crowd that he entered the race against Sen. Larry Craig, in part, because of Craig's support for the war.

Of course, that was before Craig's "incident."

According to the latest Federal Election Commission totals, Obama has still raised more cash in Idaho than John McCain: $375,586 to $228,938.